3 residents off to jail after drug convictions

Three Oswego County residents were sentenced to state prison on drug charges May 5.

They are:

Timothy L.S. Benway, 21, of Oswego, was sentenced to 2.5 years in state prison, along with 1.5 years post-release supervision, based upon a conviction for criminal possession of a controlled substance fifth degree, a Felony.

On March 31, 2014, Benway pleaded guilty and admitted he possessed heroin in the city of Oswego with the intent to sell it. The heroin was ultimately discovered by the Oswego Police Department after a traffic stop that resulted in Benway’s arrest for driving on a suspended license.

William C. McDowell, 42, of Sandy Creek, was sentenced to 3.5 years in state prison, along with 2 years post-release supervision. On March 17, McDowell pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance third degree, a felony.

At the time of his plea, McDowell admitted that he acted together with another person to possess methamphetamine in the town of Sandy Creek with the intent to sell it. McDowell was arrested by members of the NYSP Community Narcotics Enforcement Team after they executed a search warrant on a residence.

Miguel A. Soto-Cruz, 33, of Oswego, was sentenced to 2 years in prison and 2 years post-release based upon his conviction for criminal possession of a controlled substance third degree, a felony.

The conviction was based upon Soto-Cruz’s possession of more than 1/2 ounce of cocaine. As part of the disposition, Soto-Cruz forfeited $12,821 that was seized by the Oswego Police Department as part of the investigation under the theory that the money was the proceeds of drug sales.

“These defendants were polluting our community with dangerous drugs and deserved state prison,” said District Attorney Gregory Oakes.

“We need to clean up our community, and my office will continue to vigorously prosecute those who sell drugs as way of life,” Oakes said.